Method for testing a chip with a housing and for placing said housing on the board

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to the fabrication and testing of a chip with a package ( 2 ) having connecting pins ( 1 ) as well as to mounting the package ( 2 ) on a board ( 5 ), whereby in order to combine the advantages of a package ( 2 ) with inline connecting pins ( 1 ) with the advantages of a package ( 2 ) with offset connecting pins ( 11, 12 ), the package ( 2 ) is fabricated with inline connecting pins ( 1 ) and inserted into a test socket ( 3 ) for testing. Immediately before mounting on the board ( 5 ), at least one connecting pin, preferably every second connecting pin ( 12 ), of the package ( 2 ) is bent inward by a bending tool ( 6 ) so as to achieve an offset arrangement of the connecting pins ( 11, 12 ). The package ( 2 ) is preferably mounted on the board ( 5 ) using the bending tool ( 6 ). A simple, inexpensively produced test socket ( 3 ) is sufficient for the purpose of testing the chip. An inexpensively produced guide brace ( 4 ), for example, is suitable as a packaging means. Since every second connecting pin ( 12 ) is not bent inward immediately before insertion of the connecting pins ( 11, 12 ), no subsequent corrective alignment of the offset connecting pins ( 11, 12 ) is required.

The invention relates to a method for testing a chip with a package, and for mounting the package on a board, wherein the adjacent connecting pins of the package are in an inline arrangement.

In order to keep the dimensions small for the package of a chip with multiple connecting pins, for example, 88 pins, the connecting pins are arranged in line as closely as possible. However, a minimum spacing must still be maintained since the space between associated holes on a board for insertion of the connecting pins may not be arbitrarily reduced. As the spacing of the holes and conducting lines on the board becomes closer, the process of fabricating a board becomes more complex and expensive. In addition, there is the risk that close spacing of the holes on the board will cause the connecting pins to short out during the soldering process.

One means of increasing hole spacing on the board is to configure the connecting pins of the package by bending some of the connecting pins or, for example, by inwardly offsetting every second connecting pin. However, the advantage of greater hole spacing on the board is counteracted by the disadvantages of requiring a special test socket to test the chips and requiring an expensive packaging means. Specifically, the packaging means must be designed such that the connecting pins are not bent out of their precise alignment.

The goal of the invention is therefore to design a method for testing a chip with a package, and for mounting the package on a board in such a way that simple and inexpensively produced test sockets are sufficient for testing, and similarly simple and inexpensively produced packaging means are sufficient for packaging, while at the same time achieving an offset arrangement for the connecting pins.

The invention achieves this goal using the features listed in claim 1 by inserting the package with its inline connecting pins into a test socket for testing and by bending inward at least one connecting pin using a bending tool immediately before insertion of the connecting pins of the package into the holes of the board, in order to achieve an offset arrangement of the connecting pins.

In the method according to the invention, the package is fabricated with inline connecting pins—individuals skilled in the art frequently use the expression “dual inline”—and the chip is tested in this state. To this end, the chip is inserted into a test socket. The first advantage here is that inexpensively produced test sockets may be utilized to test the chips. The second advantage is that even inexpensive packaging means are sufficient for storing and transporting the chips. Additionally, in the method according to the invention, at least one connecting pin, preferably every second connecting pin, is bent inward by a bending tool immediately before insertion of the connecting pins of the package into the board in order to form an offset arrangement of the connecting pins. The invention thus combines the advantages of a package in which its connecting pins are in an inline arrangement with those of a package in which its connecting pins are in an offset arrangement.

Electrical testing of the chip may thus be of a simple design since inexpensively produced test sockets are sufficient for the task. In addition, standard packaging means may be employed to package the package. Subsequent alignment of the connecting pins is simplified since the connecting pins are not bent into the offset arrangement until immediately before insertion into the board, rather than at the fabrication stage of the package.

The invention will be described and explained in more detail based on the figures:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention showing the individual steps of the method;

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of a package with the bending tool attached;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the package of FIG. 2 with the bending tool attached;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a package and including dimensional details;

FIG. 5 is a section of a board having holes for the connecting pins and including dimensional details; and

FIG. 6 shows another example of a chip according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention showing the individual steps of the method.

The package 2 fabricated with inline connecting pins 1 is inserted into a test socket 3 in order to test the chip. Any rework which might be required on package 2 or the chip is performed. Package 2 is then packaged in a packaging means such as a guide brace 4. Immediately before package 2 is mounted on a board 5, every second connecting pin 12, for example, is bent inward by bending tool 6, while the remaining connecting pins 11 are left unmodified. Connecting pins 11 and 12 are now inserted into the holes 7 of board 5, preferably, by bending tool 6.

FIG. 2 is a top view of package 2, along with connecting pins 11 and 12, and with bending tool 6 attached.

FIG. 3 is a front view of package 2 with connecting pins 11 and 12, and with bending tool 12 attached. Every second connecting pin 12 is bent inward, while the remaining connecting pins 11 are bent outward or are oriented vertically, as is the case during fabrication of package 2.

FIG. 4 is a front view of package 2, with connecting pins 11 bent outward and connecting pins 12 bent inward, including dimensional details.

The spacing between the vertical pins on the package is 19.05 mm. Second connecting pins 12 are bent 0.4 mm inward from the vertical, while remaining connecting pins 11 are bent 0.87 mm outward.

FIG. 5 is a section of board 5 having holes 71 for outwardly bent connecting pins 11, and holes 72 for inwardly bent connecting pins 12. Holes 71 and 72 are offset relative to each other by 1.27 mm. The spacing of inline holes 71 and 72 is 2.54 mm. The spacing between two offset holes 71 and 72 is chosen as 1.8 mm.

It is especially advantageous to arrange the connecting pins on the package symmetrically relative to the longitudinal center axis and transverse center axis of the package since this symmetrical arrangement allows for the use of a symmetrical bending tool. It is then irrelevant how the bending tool is placed on the package. It is impossible to bend the connecting pins incorrectly by attaching the bending tool with the improper orientation.

The method according to the invention permits the use of packaging means suitable for the standard PSDIP package. No special packaging means are required.

While the above figures describe an approach in which every second connecting pin is bent inward once, FIG. 6 illustrates another possibility. With this possibility, every second pin a is bent 90° downward, relative to the package. Every intermediate pin b, on the other hand, is first bent downward by less than 90° relative to the package, for example, by 45°, then subsequently bent by an additional angle, for example, 45°.

List of reference notations

-   -   1 connecting pins     -   2 package     -   3 test socket     -   4 guide brace     -   5 board     -   6 bending tool     -   7 hole     -   11 connecting pin bent outward     -   12 connecting pin bent inward     -   71 hole for outwardly bend connecting pin     -   72 hole for inwardly bend connecting pin     -   a pin     -   b pin 

1. Method for testing a chip with a package (2) and for mounting a package (2) on a plate (5), wherein the adjacent connecting pins (1) of the package (2) are in an inline arrangement, characterized in that the package (2) with its inline connecting pins is inserted into a test socket (3) to test the chip, and at least one connecting pin (1) is bent inward by a bending tool (6) immediately before insertion of the connecting pin (12) of the package (2) into the holes (7) of the board (5), in order to achieve an offset arrangement of the connecting pins (11, 12).
 2. The method of claim 2, wherein every second connecting pin (12) is bent inward.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the bent and non-bent connecting pins (11, 12) are arranged symmetrically relative to the longitudinal center axis and to the transverse center axis of the package (2).
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the spacing between the inline connecting pins (11) is 1.27 mm, while the spacing between holes (71, 72) on the board (5) is at least 1.788 mm.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the connecting pins (71, 72) are offset relative to each other by 1.27 mm.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein every first connecting pin (11) is bent outward by a predefined first angle, and every second connecting pin (12) is bent inward by a second predefined angle.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the package (2) is mounted onto the board (5) by a bending tool (6).
 8. Chip with a package (2), wherein adjacent connecting pins (1) of the package (2) are in an inline arrangement, characterized in that at least one connecting pin (12) is bent inward so that the connecting pins (11, 12) are in an offset arrangement.
 9. Chip according to claim 8, characterized in that every second connecting pin (12) is bent inward.
 10. The chip of claim 8, wherein the bent and non-bent connecting pins (11, 12) are arranged symmetrically relative to the longitudinal center axis and transverse center axis of the package (2).
 11. The chip of claim 10, wherein the spacing between inline connecting pins (11) is 1.27 mm.
 12. The chip of claim 11, wherein the connecting pins (71, 72) are offset relative to each other by 1.27 mm.
 13. The chip of claim 12, wherein every first connecting pin (11) is bent outward by a predefined angle, and every second connecting pin (12) is bent inward by a predefined angle. 